The curriculum that we have developed at St. Anthony's School is in accordance with the Diocese of Paterson curriculum guides for each subject and grade level. We also follow the Core Curriculum Standards from the New Jersey Department of Education as our guide for each subject and grade level.
The following summaries explain some of the skills, areas of focus, and themes that each grade incorporates into its curriculum. These are only summaries, and some themes and skills, as well as strategies, may certainly change from year to year.
Pre-K - 3 and 4
The focus in the Pre-K 3 and 4 is on concrete learning to visually stimulate and to challenge the student. The social skills necessary to interact with other students and teachers are also stressed.
God's care for us and development of respect for one another is incorporated into every area whether it is Language Development, Creative Arts, Science, Social Studies or Reading Readiness.
The environment of the Pre-K room itself, as well as the teaching staff, promotes among the students, creativity, self esteem, and curiosity about the world around us.
Kindergarten
In Kindergarten, the student is guided to integrate academic fundamentals with socialization skills.
God's creation and love for us is incorporated into every area of the curriculum.
Reading Readiness begins with recognition of letters, names, and initial consonant sounds.
Math skills focus on counting, writing simple addition and subtraction facts, as well as the skills of comparing, ordinal numbers, shapes, measurement of time, money, length, height and weight, and creating graphs as well as classifying objects in a set.
Science and Social Studies are taught in relation to the seasons, holidays, and various other themes.
Enrichment subjects include Art, Music, Physical Education and Computer Education. The use of a SmartBoard and projector enhance all subjects in this grade.
Grade 1
The first grade learns about God's love and introduces the concept of the Church as a place where we belong. This theme of belonging is incorporated into every subject in the curriculum.
The reading program begins with a review of the skills, sounds, and letter and word recognition. On-level readers, as well as independent readers and readers that focus on phonics skills, are used.
Penmanship skills are taught including the correct formation of upper and lower case letters.
Science and Social Studies are also included in the curriculum with the focus on physical and life science, and developing an understanding of families, communities, and our place in the world.
Enrichment subjects for grade one include Physical Education, Art, Music and Computer Education. The class also has the exclusive use of a SmartBoard for student engagement and the use of "Brain Pop" a licensed website that introduces many subjects and includes assessment of the materials presented.
Grade 2
In second grade the students focus on preparing for the sacraments of Penance and First Eucharist. Becoming familiar with the stories and teachings of Jesus and prayers as well as the Ten Commandments and the seasons of the Liturgical Year are also incorporated into the teaching of all areas of the curriculum.
The focus in Reading is on phonics, comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, as well as research and study skills.
The Math curriculum includes skills work in numerical operations, estimation, units of measurement, patterns, probability, as well as problem solving and reasoning.
Science and Social Studies focus on concrete, hands-on experiments and projects that feature the elements of a community, the symbols of a nation, and the features of a map and a globe.
In Language Arts, types of sentences are introduced as well as the function of nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns. Paragraph writing is also modeled as well as the format of a friendly letter.
Special subjects for Grade 2 include Art, Music, and Computer Education, Spanish and Physical Education. The extensive use of the SmartBoard in Grade 2 assists the students in technology skills, and make the learning fun. The "Brain Pop" website is also used to enhance each subject area.
Grade 3
The major focus for the third grade is: We are the Church. The Early Church is studied as well as the Church today. Guided meditations and/or contemplative prayers are part of daily Religion class. The recitation of a decade of the Rosary each afternoon enhances the spiritual life of the children. The message of the Gospel is evident in every facet of the curriculum.
Math class emphasizes addition and subtraction of three or more digit numbers, and basic multiplication and division facts, using various strategies. Other skills include place value, geometry, time and money measurement, fraction skills and the use of graphs. Problem solving skills are also taught and applied.
In Social Studies the focus is on Communities - Past, Present and Future. Skills gained include geographical understanding of map features including the scale, the key, longitude and latitude and emphasis on environmental issues. In addition, the rights and responsibilities of citizens and the symbols of patriotism are studied.
In Science an overview of topics include: Life/Environmental Science; Physical Science, with hands-on work in our Science Room, Earth Science and the Human Body. Various strategies are used to support our understanding of the many sciences that make up the third grade curriculum such as observation, creation, discussion and hands-on projects.
Language Arts work includes journal writing, vocabulary, cause and effect relationships, and story sequence, utilizing strategies such as: Story Prediction from vocabulary, plot structure, Venn Diagrams, Main Idea/Supporting details, with special emphasis on various types of writing, help improve each student s performance.
Special subjects in the third grade include classes in Art, Music, Spanish, Computer Education, and Physical Education. The SmartBoard in Grade 4 helps the students with presentations as well as the use of "Brain Pop" to explore subjects in the curriculum.
Grade 4
The religious focus in Grade 4 is the 10 Commandments, the Beatitudes and the Works of Mercy. Pupils study the Commandments in depth and concentrate, too, on Jesus forgiveness of sins in the sacrament of Reconciliation. Prayer, song, art, role playing, discussion, and group projects are all part of the Religion class. Children have the opportunity for personal prayer as well as group prayer, and have many opportunities for interaction in the celebration of liturgies.
Math study includes a review of all basic operations, particularly an extension of multiplication and division skills. Geometry, fractions, decimals, measurement, coordinate geometry and graphing are all studied at this grade level. Emphasis is put on problem solving, seeing patterns, and operational strategies. Game techniques are often used and team work encouraged.
The Science curriculum is broken into four areas. In the first marking period, children study Life Science, with lessons on animal structure and function, classification, ecosystems, and survival techniques. Pupils investigate habitats, food chains and webs, and ways in which people can help the environment. The second marking period is devoted to the study of Physical Science with emphasis on lab activities and group "hands-on" work. Areas covered include matter, force, motion, and forms of energy such as light, sound, and electricity. The third marking period sees the children studying Earth Science: exploring the ocean, outer space, the makeup of the planet Earth, and the weather. In the last marking period, children study several systems of the human body: digestive, circulatory, and respiratory. They also participate in a Family Life Program, wherein they learn about making life choices and study the effects of using drugs, alcohol, and tobacco .
In Social Studies the Fourth Grade immerses itself in the study of the state of New Jersey. Children work together to learn mapping and study skills. They visit several New Jersey sites. They play act events in New Jersey s history. They build dioramas to see how people lived in the region long ago.
The Reading/Language Arts curriculum includes emphasis on writing and the different genres of reading materials. Creative book reports extend the reading experience outside the classroom.
The Fourth Grade curriculum is enhanced by special classes in Art, Music, Computer Education, Spanish, and Physical Education. These special teachers work closely with the regular classroom teacher to provide the fourth grader at St. Anthony s with a well-balanced education.
Grade 4 has access in their own room to a SmartBoard with access to the "Brain Pop" website for schools.
Grade 5
Fifth grade focuses on the seven sacraments. Each sacrament and its importance and uniqueness in our lives is presented, along with guidance on how to be better Christian
people in our daily lives. The fifth grade also strives to participate in the Mass and to understand other religions and beliefs that differ from our own.
The Reading program for fifth grade uses a basic text with six units and six unique themes, along with a workbook to reinforce skills by presenting a wide array of comprehension skills, writing skills, vocabulary and plot and character analysis.
In addition, book reports and supplementary reading materials are presented to gain student interest.
The Math curriculum covers many real-life skills including data and statistics, division and multiplication, geometry, fraction concepts, measurement, ratio, percent and probability. Problem solving is emphasized, and math is related to our everyday lives.
The curriculum in Social Studies focuses on Latin America, the United States, and Canada. The students gain understanding of the geography, history and cultures of Latin America, Central America, and Mexico in the first half of the year. During the second term they learn about the geography, history and culture of the United States and Canada.
The Science curriculum covers the New Jersey Core Curriculum standards through the areas of Life Science, Environmental, Earth Science and Physical Science. These areas include engaging the students in some of the basic principles of physics including natural laws, motion, forces, and energy transformations. The Earth Science component involves students in gaining an understanding of the structure, dynamics and geophysical systems of the earth.
In Language Arts the components of writing, reading, speaking, listening and viewing materials leads to the kind of communication skills essential for students now and in the future. Fluency in reading appropriately for different purposes and audiences, using the proper phrasing and intonation are stressed. Reading strategies before, during and after reading are employed by the teacher. A major area of focus involves the skills necessary to ensure comprehension and response to the text.
To enhance the curriculum, the fifth grade also participates in Physical Education class, Art, Music, Computer Education as well as Spanish. The use of the SmartBoard assists students, particularly in Math, and with access to "Brain Pop" helps the students practice math skills and do research.
Grade 6
The sixth grade, an integral part of our "Middle School," receives religious instruction as revealed in the Catholic faith and found in both Sacred Scripture and tradition. Beginning with the Old Testament stories and lessons, the students read and discover how Jesus became the fulfillment of all the prophets' words. The correlation between the Holy Men and Women of the Bible, the concept of "free will," and the renewal of the covenant in Jesus, is the focus for these students.
The Reading curriculum in Grade 6 incorporates comprehension skills such as reading and responding critically to an author's purpose, ideas, views, and beliefs. Students also work with cause and effect and sequence of events to gain meaning. Distinguishing between minor and major differences as well as how to make inferences using textual information and locating supporting evidence helps students to read with increased proficiency. Book reports and recognition of story elements enhance the Reading program.
Our sixth grade Math curriculum emphasizes problem solving and all skills are related to real-life applications. Topic areas include multiplication and division with decimals, fraction concept work, geometry, understanding and using percent, perimeter, area and volume. The introduction of algebraic work involves integers and equations.
Language Arts, integrated throughout the curriculum, focuses on writing as a process, revising drafts by rereading for meaning, elaborating and deleting as needed, and achieving clarity, organization, and fluency in writing. The mechanics of writing including punctuation and spelling patterns include the use of a variety of materials for teaching.
Social Studies in the sixth grade introduces World History to our students, with studies of the cultures and traditions of Ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece and Rome. The curriculum helps the students develop an appreciation for the religion, government, art and architecture, as well as the legacies from each culture.
The Science curriculum begins with Life Science and the study of cells. The evolution from one cell to a multi-cellular animal is also explored. Astronomy with real life situations are another major focus of the Science program. In the area of Physical Science the students work cooperatively with hands-on applications involving simple machines, and light and sound activities, utilizing tuning forks and prisms.
The sixth grade curriculum is enhanced by participating in Music, Art, Spanish and Physical Education and Computer Education classes.
The SmartBoard in sixth grade can be used for research, website searching, as well as review and introduction of topics for test practice.
Grade 7
The theme of the seventh grade Religion program is the life and mission of Jesus. The year begins with Jesus' question, "Who do you say I am?" and end the year with His challenge, "Who do you say you are?" Students explore the life values Jesus taught and are challenged to live a Christian lifestyle. They learn to appreciate the sacraments of Eucharist and Reconciliation as signs of hope through Scripture reading. In addition, these young people are encouraged to develop Christian attitudes and behavior. They create and participate in liturgies, prayer services and a variety of service projects.
Life Science is one of the major focuses of the seventh grade program where inquiry and problem solving are strengthened. Describing the life cycles of humans and other organisms is taught with a hands-on approach through experiments and demonstrations. The structure and function of cells, tissue, organs and systems are emphasized. In addition, selected topics in Physics, Chemistry, Earth Science and Astronomy are taught with a variety of techniques and stresses.
The Language Arts program for Grade 7 is based on the fundamental principle of building effective communication. Skills in listening, speaking, reading, writing and viewing are enhanced through a variety of strategies. These developing skills are utilized throughout the curriculum. Oral presentations and writing assignments are both included in the curriculum.
The Reading program is integrated with the Language Arts program and provides traditional and contemporary reading selections, writing instruction, and vocabulary activities. The various genres of literature are presented for students appreciation.
The Social Studies curriculum begins with the study of American History which will culminate in the eighth grade. The Early Americans, the early explorers, the development of the English colonies, American Revolution and both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are stressed in seventh grade. Skills that are mastered include reading charts, graphs and time lines for critical information, interpretation of diagrams and maps, the development of citizenship and values, as well as the development of pride in one s own work through the assignments of oral and written reports and projects.
Seventh grade Math includes many of the Pre-Algebra skills needed for a good foundation for algebraic success. Once again, Problem Solving remains a major focus with emphasis on solving problems using Algebra and Geometry. The use of integers is explored as well as further work with equations and functions. Proportional Reasoning and the application of percents is another major theme. All of the topics covered in the Math curriculum are related to their significance in the everyday life of the students.
The 7th grade program also includes Music, Art, Spanish, Computer Education and Physical Education. History sites and virtual tours may be accessed on the Smartboard of which provides practical use for Social Studies topics and other parts of the curriculum.
Grade 8
The focus of the Religion program for Grade 8 involves the history of the Church and its people. The emphasis is on people and events that helped the Church to develop and grow to the present time. The future of the Church is also explored by our students. Eighth grade, along with most of the other grades, is responsible for many of the liturgies throughout the school year.
The Reading program, which is literature based, includes not only reading but writing and the development of critical thinking skills using various forms of literature. A variety of genres are included in the curriculum. Book reports are also a requirement of the curriculum. Some are written, some illustrated and others dramatized allowing for various intelligences to be employed. At least three novels are also included throughout the year.
The Science curriculum covers the areas of Life Science, Environmental Science, Health, Earth Science, Astronomy and Physical Science. Labs, projects and a science exhibition are all a part of the Science curriculum for eighth grade.
The eighth grade Math curriculum the focus is on algebraic problem solving related to real life situations. Using statistical data, equations and inequalities, graphing in the coordinate plane, as well as rational numbers, application of proportion and percents, and patterns in Geometry are part of the curriculum focus for the eighth grade. In addition functions, polynomials and probability are also covered.
In Social Studies the second part of American History, from the Civil War forward, is the focus of the curriculum. Using various sources, primary and secondary, the students develop an appreciation of the historical roots of the development of our nation. In addition to the dates and facts of historical events, an appreciation of the injustices and conflicts that shaped our history, from the abolition of slavery, to the plight of the Native Americans and the Civil Rights movement are explored. The theme of war is also explored through a variety of strategies including written work, presentations, and projects.
The Language Arts program puts major emphasis on writing in clear, concise, organized language that varies in content and form for different audiences and purposes. This is incorporated from the New Jersey Core Curriculum standards and a variety of techniques are used to develop this skill. All of the components of writing, from drafting, revising and editing, the use of rubrics to analyze one s own writing, the use of the proper mechanics, and the recognition of the purpose and audience for the writing are focused upon. The use of research and the selection and organization of the most effective information are skills that produce clear, supported pieces of writing. To produce the most effective communication, with many considerations to keep in mind, is the major purpose of the Language Arts program for Grade 8.
The eighth grade program is enhanced with the inclusion of Art, Music, Physical Education, Computer class and Spanish.
The Smartboard, with its connection to the Internet is also utilized in many subject areas - from music to Science topics. "Brain Pop" is also used for introduction and for assessment.
